Page 163 - WPA Book
P. 163
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Littleton W. Gambill Home.
2. LOCATION:
North side of East Market Street, where Federal Street intersects, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
In 1790.
4. OWNERS:
Thomas Harrison, part of inclusive patent, March 1773 (1290 acres).
Reuben and Robert Harrison from father, Thomas Harrison, inheritance.
Jacob Wyant from Reuben Harrison, record burnt, B.R. D.B. 000, page 241.
William Brisbon from Jacob Wyant, March 1805, $1,000, B.R. D.B. 000, page 241.
Robert Gray from William Brisbon, December 24, 1808, $300, B.R. D.B. 000, page 547.
Joseph Thornton from Robert Gray, March 16, 1814, $1,000, D.B. 2, page 223.
Peter Harry from Jos. Thornton, January 25, 1817, $1,500, B.R.D.B. 3, page 408.
Littleton W. Gambill from Jos. Brathwaite, commissioner, December 28, 1848, B.R.D.B. 21, page 158.
Cathern R. Gambill from J.S. Harnsberger, commissioner, June 22, 1878, D.B. 20, page 196.
R. Holmes Gambill by will from Cathern R. Gambill, mother, January 31, 1901.
William M. Billhimer from H.W. Bertram, commissioner, June 2, 1904, $2,550, D.B. 81, page 209.
Able Miller, present owner, from William Billheimer and H.W. Bertram, special commissioner, $2,500,
June 10, 1907, D.B. 81, page 209.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This is a log house, with a gable roof, still standing, but moved back of its original location. It has two lower
and two upper rooms and a front porch.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Littleton W. Gambill was born September 16, 1802, the son of Henry J. and Margaret Burns Gambill, and died
in Harrisonburg, Virginia, April 22, 1876.
His life of seventy-four years was spent in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, in the affairs of which he
took an active part, always interested in whatever seemed to be instrumental in the advancement and well being
of the town and the county.
For a number of years, he was Clerk of the County and the Circuit Courts, beginning his service as such in 1847
and [likely, or] 1848 following in the footsteps of his father, Henry J. Gambill, who had held the office from
1809 to 1847, a period of thirty-seven years.
That Littleton Gambill conducted the work and performed the duties of the office in a satisfactory way was
attested by the frequency of his re-election to that office.
He was popular in town and county, which may be accounted for by his kindly, mature, and genial disposition.
He was known for years as Major Gambill, possibly because he was Clerk of the Courts, Marshall for a number
of years, and attended all of its sittings. He was past the age limit for service in the War Between the States and
greatly regretted its occurrence.
Major Gambill like most men had a specialty or hobby and his seems to have been masonry. He used to say,
“There would have been no War Between the States, no sectional difficulty, if there had been more Masons.”
He might be called one of the fathers of that time-honored institution. He had been a faithful and zealous
member of the Harrisonburg Lodge for many years, and its work and objects held a place in his heart second
only to the Christian Church, of which he was a prayerful and devoted member. He believed in the cause of
temperance and took an active part with William G. Stevens, Charles D. Gray and others in the organization of
the Sons of Temperance in 1844.
Page 162 of 482
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Littleton W. Gambill Home.
2. LOCATION:
North side of East Market Street, where Federal Street intersects, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
In 1790.
4. OWNERS:
Thomas Harrison, part of inclusive patent, March 1773 (1290 acres).
Reuben and Robert Harrison from father, Thomas Harrison, inheritance.
Jacob Wyant from Reuben Harrison, record burnt, B.R. D.B. 000, page 241.
William Brisbon from Jacob Wyant, March 1805, $1,000, B.R. D.B. 000, page 241.
Robert Gray from William Brisbon, December 24, 1808, $300, B.R. D.B. 000, page 547.
Joseph Thornton from Robert Gray, March 16, 1814, $1,000, D.B. 2, page 223.
Peter Harry from Jos. Thornton, January 25, 1817, $1,500, B.R.D.B. 3, page 408.
Littleton W. Gambill from Jos. Brathwaite, commissioner, December 28, 1848, B.R.D.B. 21, page 158.
Cathern R. Gambill from J.S. Harnsberger, commissioner, June 22, 1878, D.B. 20, page 196.
R. Holmes Gambill by will from Cathern R. Gambill, mother, January 31, 1901.
William M. Billhimer from H.W. Bertram, commissioner, June 2, 1904, $2,550, D.B. 81, page 209.
Able Miller, present owner, from William Billheimer and H.W. Bertram, special commissioner, $2,500,
June 10, 1907, D.B. 81, page 209.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This is a log house, with a gable roof, still standing, but moved back of its original location. It has two lower
and two upper rooms and a front porch.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Littleton W. Gambill was born September 16, 1802, the son of Henry J. and Margaret Burns Gambill, and died
in Harrisonburg, Virginia, April 22, 1876.
His life of seventy-four years was spent in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, in the affairs of which he
took an active part, always interested in whatever seemed to be instrumental in the advancement and well being
of the town and the county.
For a number of years, he was Clerk of the County and the Circuit Courts, beginning his service as such in 1847
and [likely, or] 1848 following in the footsteps of his father, Henry J. Gambill, who had held the office from
1809 to 1847, a period of thirty-seven years.
That Littleton Gambill conducted the work and performed the duties of the office in a satisfactory way was
attested by the frequency of his re-election to that office.
He was popular in town and county, which may be accounted for by his kindly, mature, and genial disposition.
He was known for years as Major Gambill, possibly because he was Clerk of the Courts, Marshall for a number
of years, and attended all of its sittings. He was past the age limit for service in the War Between the States and
greatly regretted its occurrence.
Major Gambill like most men had a specialty or hobby and his seems to have been masonry. He used to say,
“There would have been no War Between the States, no sectional difficulty, if there had been more Masons.”
He might be called one of the fathers of that time-honored institution. He had been a faithful and zealous
member of the Harrisonburg Lodge for many years, and its work and objects held a place in his heart second
only to the Christian Church, of which he was a prayerful and devoted member. He believed in the cause of
temperance and took an active part with William G. Stevens, Charles D. Gray and others in the organization of
the Sons of Temperance in 1844.
Page 162 of 482
